Destiny Unveiled
Author: Laura Deluca
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: April 2012
Synopsis:
Gabriella
and Darron thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated
the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella's help in
rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella
discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be
catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches. Gabriella's coven sets
out on a journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new
allies, face devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven,
but the darkness within themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to
face with the cousin she never knew existed, her true destiny is
unveiled, and the fate of the mortal world is in her hands.
Darron was on the roof of a large building, elevated dizzyingly high
over the road below. Other skyscrapers bordered it, but it was by far
the largest building in the general area, standing several stories
higher than it's neighbors. The few cars that dotted the street below
looked like insects. Above him, the moon shone full, round, and red in
the night sky. It was an autumn moon, a blood moon. By the light of that
moon, Darron was able to see the practiced movements of six
black-cloaked figures, who swayed to the steady beat of an invisible
drum. Their shapes were obscure in the pale light, and it was impossible
to determine if they were men or women because the dark, hooded robes
they wore hid their features from view.
There was an
altar erected in the center of a circle that was outlined in black
charcoal. On that altar sat the normal tools of ritual: a black tipped
dagger, a silver chalice, an incense burner, and multiple black candles.
Darron owned similar items. They weren't frightening in themselves. But
the altar, like the people who lingered around it, was outlined by a
shimmering black aura. The vibrations they relayed were no less than
evil. Their presence made Darron shudder. He watched in horror, as a
silent and unwelcome spectator to the forbidden rights.
Four
of the cloaked figures took up the elemental corners, preparing to call
the Guardians. The Guardians answered their call, unable to ignore the
summons because magick can't be divided into good and evil. It's both
because nature is both, harsh and devastating yet beautiful and gentle
as the need arises. It was just as easy for the dark witches to harness
the destructive forces of nature as it was for Darron and his coven to
call upon its life giving magick. Good or evil was in the heart of its
master, not in the magick that was wielded.
A fifth
cloaked figure, the apparent leader of the group, stood in the center of
the circle with the dagger raised high above his head. The sixth and
final coven member groveled at the feet of the leader, his head lowered
in acquiescence. The hood of his cloak hid his face though he was no
more than a few feet away from Darron.
"Brother and
sisters," the leader proclaimed, his accented voice heavy with his
foreboding presence. "Tonight in the wake of the blood moon, we come
together to bring a new brother into our fold. He has completed the
required tasks and proven himself worthy to join us in our work."
"So mote it be!"
The four other cloaked figures cried out in perfect unison. Their hands were raised to the sky in honor of the blood moon.
The
leader picked up the chalice from the altar. He followed the path of
the circle to all of the elemental corners, stopping at each of the
robed coven members in turn. Each offered their willing hands to their
leader, palm outward. Each welcomed the point of the black edged dagger
as it dug into their open palms without so much as a gasp of pain. The
high priest cut a clean line down the centers of the palms of his
disciples, and they all squeezed their fingers against the open wound to
allow the blood to drip into the waiting chalice.
After
collecting the offering from his followers, the leader returned to the
center of the circle and the waiting initiate. With one quick motion, he
sliced open his own palm. He held his hand over the cup, letting his
blood drip slowly into the chalice, until the wound miraculously healed
before Darron's startled eyes. When the chalice was full, he carried it
to the eager initiate who took the cup firmly into his hands and tilted
it towards his lips.
"As this blood makes you one with our flesh, so your soul follows to become one with the darkness," the English voice intoned.
As
the initiate drained the last of the liquid in the chalice, his hood
fell away, revealing a blonde ponytail pulled back over a pale white
face, made even paler by the outline of bright red blood around his
lips. Darron watched in stunned, horrified silence as his own face
turned to meet his gaze. Eyes turned as black as coals stared back at
Darron with a grim smile of satisfaction.
"Rise Darron," the leader commanded. And as he spoke, he lifted the hood from his head. Rise brother of the Dark Coven."
About the Author:
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her
husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre
because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction,
Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age
Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been
studying Wicca for close to eight years.
Connect with Laura:
Prize Pack will include:
Signed copy of Destiny & Destiny Unveiled
two boxes if incense
Crystal point
A few dessert rose stone
Morrigan
